Martin Scorsese is in talks to direct a live-action adaptation of Brian Selznick's children's book "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" for GK Films, according to Variety.

From Variety: The helmer is in talks with GK Films to direct Brian Selznick's best-selling children's book "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" for what he hopes will be his next project. The pic would reunite Scorsese with his "Departed" producer Graham King.

The story centers on a 12-year-old orphan named Hugo, who lives in a train station and must finish what his late father started by solving the mystery of a broken robot. Project would mark Scorsese's first foray into kid lit--a genre that is attracting a number of high-profile directors including Wes Anderson ("The Fantastic Mr. Fox") and Spike Jonze ("Where the Wild Things Are"), whose films are resonating with adult audiences.

"Hugo," which won the Randolph Caldecott Medal in 2008 for the most distinguished American picture book for children, is of a mammoth size--533 pages. More than half of the pages contain elaborate pictures that the New York Times described as looking like movie storyboard frames.

Chris Wedge ("Ice Age") was previously attached to direct. John Logan (Scorsese's "The Aviator") wrote the script and the project will likely be Scorsese's next.

Whether it’s live action, animated, whatever, as long as Scorcese’s name is attached, I’m interested. Although his latest picture, “Shutter Island,” was delayed, I don’t think it had anything to do with the quality of the movie, which looks great, actually. And although this would be Scorcese’s first foray into a more kid friendly project, he’s no stranger to changing genre’s and experimenting with film.